DUBAI: Australia's Middle East mission is in a spin after a horror first Test revealed an out-of-form captain, raised concerns over their underperforming spinners and renewed fears over the team's ability to play slow bowling.
Journeyman spinner Zulfiqar Babar applied the knockout blow to Australia on Sunday, consigning the visitors to a 221-run defeat - their heaviest Test loss (by runs) against Pakistan in 26 years.
Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson pushed the match into a final session after compiling stoic half-centuries but do not let Australia's dogged late resistance mask the issues which emerged over the past five days in Dubai.
They are numerous, difficult to ignore, and eerily reminiscent of the debacle in India last year.
The No.1 ranking had been within reach for Australia this series only several days ago but the first Test has shown Michael Clarke's side are only world beaters when conditions suit. And they rarely do in Asia, whether it be the dustbowls of India or the slow and dry decks of the Middle East.
Coach Darren Lehmann has only three days to rebuild the dented confidence of his shellshocked team, which was comprehensively outplayed by the world No.6. And he has numerous problems to repair, little time to find solutions.
Most pressing is arguably Australia's batting woes after their vulnerabilities against spin were preyed upon by Pakistan.
Anyone who denies it is not a problem must be living in denial. Australia lost 15 wickets to the unheralded spin duo of Babar and debutant Yasir Shah and the part-time offies of opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez.
The Australians crumbled for 216, making a deck which Pakistan lost just two wickets in their second innings appear a minefield.
Only David Warner, Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson passed 50 in either innings, the latter pair doing so after two lives, while six failed to reach double figures in the doomed run chase.
That Australia's bottom three, with assistance from Smith, were able to survive 44 overs only highlighted how poorly their frontline batsmen fared.
Babar, 35, (5-74) completed his maiden five-for when he removed Peter Siddle to end Australia's stonewalling while Shah was again impressive, his four-wicket haul including key pair Clarke and Smith and the gallant Johnson.
Australia was not helped by a poor Test from Clarke, not only the team's best batsman but, along with Smith, their most accomplished against spin. His twin failures take his run tally this tour to 20 from four hits.
And though it is too early to declare Clarke to be in a form slump, he is only a shadow of the imperious batsman who defied a fractured shoulder to make an unbeaten 161 against South Africa's powerful pace attack in his last Test in March.
Clarke is paying the price after a long break and an injury-interrupted preparation. Although his commitment to training is exemplary, there are only so many balls he can hit between now and the second Test - and even that is no substitute to time in the middle.
There will be pressure for Rod Marsh and Lehmann to make changes for the second Test though swinging the axe could be construed as a sign of panic.
At most peril will be No.3 Alex Doolan, who ran himself out for five in the first innings and made a five-ball duck in the second only a week after making a century in the tour game.
His Test record after four games is underwhelming, with an average of 24 having passed 50 only once in eight innings, and his credentials against spin not convincing.
But his most likely replacement Phil Hughes is not renowned for his play of spin though is understood to have improved after long sessions with Muttiah Muralitharan.
A left-field move would be to recall all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who is an excellent player of spin and would provide an extra spin-bowling option, though that would require a major reshuffle of the batting line-up.
The performance of spin duo Nathan Lyon and Stephen O'Keefe will also be of concern to selectors.
The pair were outbowled by their Pakistan counterparts, with Lyon returning match figures of 2-220 and O'Keefe faring marginally better with 4-219.
Neither player was able to place anywhere near the sort of pressure on Pakistan as Babar and Shah applied to Australia. But they bowled when batting was easiest on the first two days and had nothing on the scoreboard to defend in the second innings.
Hopes of a miraculous draw were revived during a tense middle session during which Smith and Johnson added 65 runs for the eighth wicket.
Smith's 230-minute vigil ended when he used his feet to Shah and tucked one off his pads to Asad Shafiq at short leg.
The end was nigh five overs after tea when Johnson was given out stumped, for 61, by the video umpire, who deemed the batsman to be millimetres out of his ground.
AUSTRALIA'S TEST RECORD IN 2014
* Played 5, won 3, lost 2
* Won by 281 runs v England at SCG, Jan
* Won by 281 runs v South Africa at Centurion, Feb
* Lost by 231 runs v South Africa at Port Elizabeth, Feb
* Won by 245 runs v South Africa at Cape Town, March
* Lost by 221 runs v Pakistan at Dubai
